Valve explains PS3 Orange Box delay

By Tom Bramwell Published 7 September, 2007

Hypes up the port's quality.

Valve has confirmed that the PlayStation 3 version of Orange Box will be released a bit later than PC and 360 builds - but said the delay is nothing to do with the console itself.

The reason for the PS3 build's late arrival, marketing director Doug Lombardi told Eurogamer, is simply that the EA UK team handling its development are on the other side of the ocean and are necessarily a bit behind the core Valve team's development.

"We weren't going to hold up PC and 360 for PS3," Lombardi told us, which means the PS3 game will probably be released "around two or three weeks later".

As it stands, PC and 360 versions are due out on 9th October in the US and 12th October in Europe. As well as retail releases, the PC version will appear on Steam. In terms of pricing, PC will likely go for GBP 29.99 while 360 and PS3 versions will cost around GBP 39.99.

But, to get back to the PS3, the good news is that Valve reckons the three versions will be identical in function and, critically, performance. That's good news for Sony fans who've been getting a bit of a raw deal from some cross-platform ports.

As for the quality of the games, we're not in a position to discuss specifics until our little friend the embargo removes his hand from around our throats, but it's worth remembering that buyers on all three formats get Half-Life 2, Episode One, Episode Two, Portal and Team Fortress 2, which certainly represents value for money.

Look out for more news from Valve in the next few days.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (57) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • dunnster44u #1 5 years ago

    looking forward to this!!

  • Kryon #2 5 years ago

    PS3 Delaylol

  • AaronTurner #3 5 years ago

    Would be excellent if it came with Counterstrike. I'm well looking forward to this anyway.

  • Killerbee #4 5 years ago

    Is it still the case that for PC owners to get Episode 2 and Portal only (i.e. without having to pay all over again for a copy of HL2 and Episode One) we have to use Steam?
    Edited by 1 at 07/09/07 @ 08:52

  • X201 #5 5 years ago

    Killerbee:I would image that would be the case. Can't see them retailing various combinations of what each individual wants.

  • gizmo #6 5 years ago

    EAUKlol

  • Trendyninja #7 5 years ago

    Seems to be the trend now with PS3 games doesn't it?

    Not good.

  • Eraser #8 5 years ago

    Wasn't there a black box with only Episode 2 and portal (can't remember if TF2 would be included with that)? Or has that idea been canned?

  • Eighthours #9 5 years ago

    I'm taking the "same quality" thing with a pinch of salt for now, to be honest. Valve themselves versus EA inhouse port? Hrrrumph.

  • geepersd #10 5 years ago

    there was a Black Box version as far as I rmember, but it was scrapped a while back

  • Whizzo #11 5 years ago

    There was a Black Box but that got cancelled. Probably because Valve and EA realised anyone just wanting Ep2/TF2/Portal were going to buy via Steam.

  • SBfistfun #12 5 years ago

    PS3 version identical?But what about teh power of teh cell?!

    bah!

    Great collection of games though!

  • Steroyd #13 5 years ago

    £40?

    Oh screw you Valve that makes it very tempting to buy now. :(

  • crazyhorse174 #14 5 years ago

    Heres a question...why are PC versions of these games always 10 quid cheaper than the console ports of the same fucking game!

  • ostrasized #15 5 years ago

    I can answer that. Manufacturer's fees. Anyone who wants to release a game on Xbox or PS3 has to pay MS or Sony aroung £8 for every unit manufactured - irrespective if they're sold or not.

  • Steroyd #16 5 years ago

    to compensate paying £1000 to get a PC to run the the game?

  • onyxbox #17 5 years ago

    I'd like to believe this will be as good on PS3 but something tells me that it won't be as good.

  • Peew971 #18 5 years ago

    Because the price of a high end PC equals 4 consoles :)
    They have to save cash somewhere...

    PS: I'm talking bs, I have no idea

  • Rirekon #19 5 years ago

    @ crazyhorse174; Because console manufacturers need to recoup the cost of the console itself through software sales, it's how they can "afford" to sell them at a loss.

  • Carlo #20 5 years ago

    PORTAL!!!!!!!


    FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • drxym #21 5 years ago

    Gabe Newell has mouthed off about the PS3 multiple times now. This I chalk up more to his Microsoft-centric world than any legitimate criticism. I suspect his complaints stem from expecting a single threaded DirectX engine to be a quick port to the PS3. Quite silly really. Even so, it hardly inspires any confidence about the quality of the port. The PS3 has suffered far too much from hand-me-down ports from secondary / contract teams and the negativity from the company's own head hardly makes me want to go out and buy HL2 on the PS3. If Valve really want to generate some hype, how about showing PS3 previews to the mags and let them report on it. If the port is good it will reflect in the previews. It's quite stupid to shove the thing out surrounded by negative comments and then expect sales to be great. I almost feel if the thing doesn't sell on the PS3 (thanks to Gabe's anti-hype and low expectations) that Gabe will be blaming the PS3 for that too.
    Edited by 1 at 07/09/07 @ 09:23

  • Freelancepolice #22 5 years ago

    I could make a pc for the same price of a 360 which could play the orange box i reckon easily.

  • pigwhistler #23 5 years ago

    /start troll...

    so the three versions will be identical in performance... does this mean they are borking the pc version?.


    /end troll...

  • X201 #24 5 years ago

    "PORTAL!!!!!!!
    FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

    Pah! kids! don't know what real waiting is about ;-)

    TF2!!!!!1!
    FINALLY!!!!!1!
    (Now that's proper waiting)

  • Yaster #25 5 years ago

    That's a sale for the 360 version

  • penhalion #26 5 years ago

    Kind of a little fed up with half life these days. I guess it had to happen though in the face of stuff like crysis, farcry 2, halo 3, killzone 2 etc. etc.

    Guess I'm just all FPSed out.

    I think I'll just shout from the sidelines "Go Gordon. Let me know what happens when you find the prof! yea a phone call would be ok...better yet just text me..mm kay"

  • Rich72 #27 5 years ago

    will it have the same god awful long loading screens still?

  • urban #28 5 years ago

    fucking EA. always being shit.

  • zuljin #29 5 years ago

    @pigwhistler
    Poor effort man, poor effort. :)

    @disc
    Havoks only been on SPU for about 5 months though, so could be possible they are on an old version or so (silly really because Havok support + sample code is awesome).

  • Bumhug360 #30 5 years ago

    I hope episode 2 is longer than episode 1, just as I got into it the game ended. Got home from work, played it for a couple of hours, thought to myself just get past this next bit and get some food and that was it game over. Played demos that lasted longer

  • Xerx3s #31 5 years ago

    The reason for the PS3 build's late arrival, marketing director Doug Lombardi told Eurogamer, is simply that the EA UK team handling its development are on the other side of the ocean and are necessarily a bit behind the core Valve team's development.

    /awards spin doctor award of the month award

    Atleast he took the effort to think of an excuse.

  • Xerx3s #32 5 years ago

    to compensate paying £1000 to get a PC to run the the game?

    That's such a load of rubbish that I can't even be bothered to make fun of it.

  • Garulon #33 5 years ago

    "The PS3 has suffered far too much from hand-me-down ports from secondary / contract teams"

    Or it's just NOT AS POWERFUL as Sony said it was. Unless Lair was a secondary/contract team as well?

  • UncleLou #34 5 years ago

    Killerbee:I would image that would be the case. Can't see them retailing various combinations of what each individual wants.

    Yup, can't really blame them for that - and for the normal price of a full game, it's still fair with Ep 2, Portal and TF2, even if you already have HL2 and Ep 1, if you have to have the boxed version.

  • neilka #35 5 years ago

    If only there were a more efficient way to communicate with people on the other side of the Atlantic than sticking a Post-it(tm) to a sea turtle and crossing your fingers...

  • evild_edd #36 5 years ago

    I'm worried, for the 360 version in particular, that this title will get forgotten in the pre-Christmas rush. A lot of my mates from my previous company own 360s having been converted (in part, by me) from PS2.

    They all loved CoD2 but dodged 3; but all are getting hyped by CoD4. None of them have played and HL or Halo games before (sacrilidge I know, but they're OK guys, honest!!!), but I reckon they'll go with Halo 3 over the Orange Box.

    Edit: (clarification): ...I can't see them buying a third FPS pre-christmas!!!!

    Personally, I reckon I'll be picking up OB for HL2 and Episodes 1&2 at that bargain price... I just fear there'll be no-one on my friends-list with whom to play TF2 :0(
    Edited by 1 at 07/09/07 @ 10:18

  • neilka #37 5 years ago

    If you buy the boxed version you can sell/pass on the keys for the games you already have/don't want.

  • evild_edd #38 5 years ago

    Oh, and here's the confirmation on EA canning the black box, for you PC gamers...

    [link url=http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=76630 ]http://ww w.eurogamer.net/article.php?art...[/link]

    Edd.

  • S.J.Rogers #39 5 years ago

    @ evild_edd

    Add me to your friends list as i will be playing TF2 to death..!

  • X201 #40 5 years ago

    Ditto me for TF2

    Been waiting ages for it.
    Portal and Ep2 can wait a bit longer. TF2 is at the front of the queue.
    Edited by 1 at 07/09/07 @ 10:56

  • Katsumoto #41 5 years ago

    1000 quid for a pc to play this on? 1000 quid will currently get you a quad core 4gb ram pc that will be future proof for at least 3 years. To play THIS you do not need to spend more than around the price of a ps3. handy!

  • Eraser #42 5 years ago

    What payment methods does Steam offer? I don't have a credit card or Paypal account.

  • barnard666 #43 5 years ago

    there is so much game in there, I want toi get it (and will) I just dont know when I'll get to play it, with halo and mario coming out round there, and then COD4 and ratchet just after, I might actually not get it till january so I can actually give it the time it deserves...

    hell, Id love to know what the achievements are for this game. It;s going to be a monster, splitting 1000 points between all that...finash HL2 on hard 10GP or finsh portal in under two hours, 1 GP...not thatr it matters of course.

  • rhinoxious #44 5 years ago

    2-3 weeks is nothing really. It's hardly the end of the world for PS3 owners, unless they are very easily riled by trolling 360 fanboys.

    My real worry is how I'm going to find enough time to fully appreciate all the online shooters coming out this year:

    Team Fortress
    Halo3
    COD4

    Anyone one of these three would deserve a few months uninterrupted play.

  • Les #45 5 years ago

    Read somewhere that those Valve idiots have the PS3 version working without making any use of the SPUs. So just using the Cell core and the RSX.

  • Calgon #46 5 years ago

    Theres alot of big games this year, never seen so many good ones side by side, so for alot of people(new 360 owners especially, Ive got a feeling there will be quite a few of them this year) alot of them will probably spill well into next year(assuming they want to play them all, I sure do).
    Edited by 1 at 07/09/07 @ 12:17

  • Freelancepolice #47 5 years ago

    @Les
    Valve are anything but "idiots"

  • zoidberg #48 5 years ago

    why are people bitching about Valve? They primarily make games for the PC...
    in any case, the package is a STEAL at that price... I wish I hadn't bought HL2 and Ep1 full price, since this will be the box with the greatest value of gamer goodness.

    the one thing you should be bitching about TO Valve is the WAIT TIME for this thing... in any case, this is a MUST buy!

  • Les #49 5 years ago

    @Les
    Valve are anything but "idiots"

    I used to agree, but the way the guy described PS3 development or Valve finances made me reconsider.

  • Xerx3s #50 5 years ago

    Valve are anything but "idiots"

    I find that hard to believe after the fuckup that was HL2.

  • Katsumoto #51 5 years ago

    ooo, controversial!

    Well, for me anyway, Half Life 2 was a masterpiece, can't wait to continue the story. THe only negative criticism I can have over any of this is the amount of time between Ep 1 and 2, which kinda defies the point of episodic gaming in the first place. Still, it will rock, and it's now only weeks away

  • AaronTurner #52 5 years ago

    By the way, why isn't Counterstrike coming out?

  • admir #53 5 years ago

    way too many FPS

  • TheUnionFrag #54 4 years ago

    I don't allow myself much fanboyism, but Half-life 2 and Episode I are classics on the PC and average everywhere else. The same will apply with Episode II and eventually Episode III. I really couldn't care less about the console versions - the PC version is definetely where it's at.

  • BonzoBanana #55 4 years ago

    As a 360 owner on my fourth console I'd be happy to take a small hit on technical performance if it meant I get a reliable console. The amount of times previous 360s have crashed is ridiculous. The 360 is a truly abysmal console in build quality. Can anyone think of any modern electronic item that is as unreliable as the 360?

    Personally I'm getting a ps3 when the pricing becomes reasonable. Sadly reasonable pricing seems a long way off and with their current pricing they are probably going to have a dire christmas in europe. It probably won't start selling in respectable numbers until christmas 2008.

  • Edward_Gamer #56 4 years ago

    Playstation 3 games are ALWAYS delayed, and they ALWAYS offer disappointing performance compared to the competition.

    This is such a normal thing for the Playstation 3 that it isn't considered unusual anymore.

    In fact, maybe if a Playstation 3 game actually was released on time, then that should be in the "news," headline.

    For now, when the PS3 has a release date, it should be thought of as BS3, not PS3.

  • m0thr4 #57 4 years ago

    --Valve are anything but "idiots"--

    You don't remember them losing two thirds of their source code during HL2's development then? The reason? All the developers were using PCs connected directly to the Internet without an office firewall.

    To call them "idiots" would be a compliment.

    As for Xbox 360 vs PS3 versions... look at the very latest efforts from EA. 60fps on Xbox 360 versus barely 30fps on PS3 for all their latest sports games.

    Any debate about the potential power of either console is irrelevant - what matters is the skill of the developers and/or the tools they have available. At the moment, the only decent games for PS3 are going to be those developed exclusively for it... and even some of them struggle in performance.

    After 4 broken Xbox 360s last year, I swore I'd never buy another Microsoft product, but the news that EA are handling the Orange Box port is the straw that broke the dromedary's back.